A Woman's Way through the Twelve Steps [Paperback]

Stephanie S. Covington (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 1994

Women's recovery can differ from men's, and each person's recovery is in many ways unique. That's why Stephanie Covington has designed A Women's Way Through the Twelve Steps to help a woman find her own path-and find it in terms especially suited to the way women experience not just addiction and recovery but also relationships, self, sexuality, and everyday life. Unlike many ''rewritten'' Twelve Step interpretations for women, this guide works with the original Step language, preserving its spirit and focusing attention on its healing message.

This compilation of a diverse group of real women's voices and wisdom illuminates how women understand the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and offers inspiring stories of how they have traveled through the Steps and discovered what works for them. The book can be used alone or as a companion to The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.

By drawing attention to how recovery raises special issues for women - from questions about sexuality and relationships to essential topics such as powerlessness, spirituality, and trauma - A Woman's Way empowers women to take ownership of their recovery and to grow and flourish in sobriety.

Also available in Spanish.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

All four components of A Woman's Way through The Twelve Steps (Book, Workbook, Facilitator Guide and DVD) are designed for use with women in residential and outpatient treatment programs, as well as mental health and criminal justice settings. The components can stand alone, but to achieve the best outcomes, it is recommended that all four components be used together as a comprehensive, integrated treatment program for women.  Additional information may be found at:  stephaniecovington.com/b_awomans.php

About the Author

Dr. Stephanie S. Covington is a nationally recognized clinician, author, organizational consultant, and lecturer. She is a pioneer in the field of women's issues, addiction, and recovery. She has developed an innovative, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed approach to the treatment needs of women and girls that results in effective services in public, private, and institutional settings.

Her presentations, staff-development seminars, and technical assistance focus on systems change and the development of caring, compassionate, and empowering therapeutic environments. They provide professionals an opportunity to learn new skills for dealing with personal, institutional, and societal changes and are always in demand, both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Covington is based in La Jolla, California, where she is co-director of the Institute for Relational Development and the Center for Gender and Justice, which seeks to expand gender-responsive policies and practices for females who are under criminal justice supervision.
Among the many articles and books written by Dr. Covington are:
*          Women and Addiction: A Gender-Responsive Approach
*          Awakening Your Sexuality: A Guide for Recovering Women
*          Leaving the Enchanted Forest: The Path from Relationship
     Addiction to Intimacy

She also has program materials to help meet the needs of women and girls. The following curricula include training manuals for professionals and complementary materials for participants:
*          Helping Women Recover: A Program for Treating Addiction
     (with a special edition for the criminal justice system)
*          Beyond Trauma: A Healing Journey for Women
*          Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment for Girls
*          A Woman's Way through The Twelve Steps

For a list of Dr. Covington's recent articles, and descriptions of her current seminars for professionals, visit: stephaniecovington.com and centerforgenderandjustice.org.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Hazelden; 1 edition (September 27, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0894869930
• ISBN-13: 978-0894869938
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Recovery > Twelve-Step Programs
  • #13 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Compulsive Behavior
  • #22 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Recovery > Substance Abuse

More About the Author

Dr. Stephanie S. Covington is a nationally recognized clinician, author, organizational consultant, and lecturer. She is a pioneer in the field of women's issues, addiction, and recovery. She has developed an innovative, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed approach to the treatment needs of women and girls that results in effective services in public, private, and institutional settings.

Her presentations, staff-development seminars, and technical assistance focus on systems change and the development of caring, compassionate, and empowering therapeutic environments. They provide professionals an opportunity to learn new skills for dealing with personal, institutional, and societal changes and are always in demand, both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Covington's clients include the Betty Ford Treatment Center, the Hanley Center, Pine Grove Women's Center, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment in Washington, D.C., the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and numerous other treatment and correctional settings. Dr. Covington was a workshop chair for the women's treatment improvement protocol (TIP) and the trauma TIP (published by CSAT) and is the co-author of a three-year research project, Gender-Responsive Strategies: Research, Practice, and Guiding Principles for Women Offenders, for the National Institute of Corrections. This publication received the University of Cincinnati Award for its outstanding contribution to the field of corrections in the U.S. and Canada.

Educated at Columbia University and the Union Institute, Dr. Covington has served on the faculties of the University of Southern California, San Diego State University, and the California School of Professional Psychology, and she is a former chair of the Women's Committee of the International Council on Alcoholism and Addiction. She is a board-certified Diplomate of the National Association of Social Workers and the American Board of Sexology and is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and the American Psychological Association. She also serves on the Advisory Council for Women's Services for the federal agency SAMHSA.

Dr. Covington is based in La Jolla, California, where she is co-director of the Institute for Relational Development and the Center for Gender and Justice, which seeks to expand gender-responsive policies and practices for females who are under criminal justice supervision.

Among the many articles and books written by Dr. Covington are:
* Women and Addiction: A Gender-Responsive Approach
* Awakening Your Sexuality: A Guide for Recovering Women
* Leaving the Enchanted Forest: The Path from Relationship
Addiction to Intimacy

She also has program materials to help meet the needs of women and girls. The following curricula include training manuals for professionals and complementary materials for participants:
* Helping Women Recover: A Program for Treating Addiction
(with a special edition for the criminal justice system)
* Beyond Trauma: A Healing Journey for Women
* Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment for Girls
* A Woman's Way through The Twelve Steps

For a list of Dr. Covington's recent articles, and descriptions of her current seminars for professionals, visit: www.stephaniecovington.com and www.centerforgenderandjustice.org.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Breaking new ground for women in recovery, March 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Woman's Way through the Twelve Steps (Paperback)

For over 70 years 12 step programs have proved to be a highly successful means for recovery from a wide range of issues. But all 12 step programs are based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, an organization founded by men for men. Women have traditionally had difficulty fitting these steps into a recovery program that they can be comfortable with.

Stephanie Covington, Ph.D. addresses the difficulties women have with the traditional, male oriented, step language. Rather than alter the traditional 12 steps she focuses on the healing message in the 12 steps using the original step language, making them accessible to women from a wide range of backgrounds. Each step is explored and the various issues and reservations women have with the 12 steps are addressed utilizing the experiences of women in recovery and how they came to terms with the difficulties that women often experience with the traditional 12 steps. Although the main thrust of the book is addiction she carries over the ideas of the addictions based programs and looks at the experience of women in such areas as relationships, sexuality, spirituality and everyday life.

A Woman's Way Through the Twelve Steps is a comprehensive resource for women in recovery no matter what 12 step program they participate in. It is the rare woman that won't see herself somewhere in it's pages and come away with something that can enhance her recovery.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works for me (and my sponsees), April 11, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Woman's Way through the Twelve Steps (Paperback)

I really like this book, as a formal reference used with sponsees, and as a refresher / breath of fresh air for my own program. The official literature of AA is often difficult for newcomers who have survived sexual trauma, don't read at all well, or have been badly hurt by a mainstream religion. This book works well in conjunction with the official literature to address all three of those concerns. It's readable, in plain English, and deftly sums up a wide range of current approaches to the steps. Not perfect, but a major improvement!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a rewrite, August 3, 2005

By 

Claudia McGill (Wyncote, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Woman's Way through the Twelve Steps (Paperback)

Clearly written and with a real understanding of female approach to a 12 step program, this book is useful for women in recovery. I think it also has something to say to those who are seeking an approach to deal with other issues, such as emotional or anxiety disorders, etc. In any case, it expands on the basic themes of the program and helps expand their meaning to fit the different viewpoint many women bring to the process. I liked the compassionate tone; the forgiving and self-accepting meaning of the original message is only amplified in the author's discussions of the steps. It makes you feel as if you have another ally in your work. Well worth reading, and I'd even say it has something to say to you even if you are not in a recovery program.